Chicken Thighs with Parsnips and Spinach

I changed this Real Simple recipe just a little bit because I couldn’t find the collards at the grocery store. Is that strange? I don’t believe I’ve ever bought collards before so I don’t know if they are a regular food item that the grocery store should carry.

Anyway, the spinach worked just fine.

Here are your ingredients (besides your chicken thighs, salt and pepper) …

And your baked chicken thighs will eventually come out looking all pretty, like this …

There’s simply not much to this tasty recipe so — let’s get ready to try it.

Ingredients

• 1 pound parsnips, cut into 3-inch lengths, halved or quartered
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and black pepper
• 4 large bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 1/3 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 bunch of spinach, stems discarded and leaves thinly sliced (about 2-3 cups)

Directions

1. Heat your oven to 425° F.
2. Toss the parsnips, honey, 1 tablespoon of the oil, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper on a rimmed baking sheet.
3. Roast, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
5. Season the chicken with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper and brown the chicken in batches, 4 to 6 minutes per side.
6. Transfer the chicken to a rimmed baking sheet but reserve the drippings that are left in the skillet.
7. Bake the chicken in the oven until cooked. I stab my chicken with a wooden skewer and my chicken is done when no “pink” liquid comes out of it. You could also use a meat thermometer and insert that in the thickest part of the chicken. You want a temperature of 165° F for doneness. You’ll be baking the chicken for 12-15 minutes more or less.
8. While the chicken is baking, add the raisins, vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to the drippings in the skillet and combine it all, scraping up the bits stuck to the pan, until the vinegar is reduced by half, oh – a minute or so.
9. Add the spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring, until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes.
10. Serve the salad with the chicken and parsnips.

Quite a snap to make and this recipe had everything incorporated into it — the meat, salad and a veggie.

Enjoy!